Dispenser for rolled materials

Abstract

A rotation mechanism is provided for use with dispensers for rolled products. The rotation mechanism can be utilized with dispensers configured for a number of different paper, plastic, foil or other products supplied as rolled sheets on tubes or rolls, The rotation mechanism provides mild resistance to the rotation of a roll of products such that a desired quantity can be removed from the roll without excess material unraveling from the roll.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A dispenser for a product supplied as a rolled sheet on a tube or roll, said dispenser comprising: 
       a rod having a first end and a second end, said rod having an axial screw stud at said first end;  
       a sleeve disposed on said first end of said rod, said sleeve having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end having a circumferential collar;  
       a spinner disposed on and being freely rotatable about said sleeve, said spinner having a head end and a bottom end, said head end contacting said collar such that said spinner is retained on said sleeve, and said bottom end having a concentric depression therein, said concentric depression having a plurality of circumferential ridges;  
       a fiction disc disposed on said axial screw stud and within said concentric depression such that said spinner is retained on said sleeve; and  
       a first base member, said rod being joined to said first base member by said screw stud engaging a retaining nut in said first base member.  
     
     
       2. The dispenser according to  claim 1  in which said lower end of the sleeve has a recessed area. 
     
     
       3. The dispenser according to  claim 2  in which said friction disc is disposed within said recessed area, said friction disc having a core and a plurality of protrusions extending form the core, said protrusions loosely engaging said plurality, of circumferential ridges such that when said spinner rotates said plurality of protrusions contact said plurality of ridges, slowing said rotation. 
     
     
       4. The dispenser according to  claim 3  further comprising: 
       a cap located on said rod toward the end of the rod opposite the location of said spinner; and  
       a plurality of flexible wires, each having a first end and a second end, each connected to said cap at said first end and connected to said spinner at said second end, each of said wires being bowed outward in order to closely engage the inside of said tube or roll.  
     
     
       5. The dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
       said sleeve further comprises at least one rotation lock, said at least one rotation lock engaging at least one notch in said first base member.  
     
     
       6. The dispenser according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
       a head piece attached to said second end of said rod; and  
       a tear bar.  
     
     
       7. The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said spinner is sized and dimensioned to closely engage the inner surface of a tube or roll used for rolled sheet products. 
     
     
       8. The dispenser according to  claim 7  wherein said spinner further comprises a circumferential surface and a plurality of flexible fingers disposed on said circumferential surface. 
     
     
       9. The dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said friction disc has a circumferential edge and a flex ring disposed about said circumferential edge, said flex ring having a plurality of raised projections thereon, said plurality of raised projections loosely engaging said plurality of circumferential ridges such that when said spinner rotates said plurality of raised projections contact said plurality of ridges, generating resistance to said rotation. 
     
     
       10. The dispenser according to  claim 9  wherein said sleeve further comprises at least one first rotation lock, said at least one first rotation lock engaging at least one notch in said friction disc. 
     
     
       11. The dispenser according to  claim 10  further comprising: 
       a washer disposed between said spinner and said friction disc.  
     
     
       12. The dispenser according to  claim 10  wherein said friction disc further comprises at least one second rotation lock, said at least one second rotation lock engaging at least one notch in said base. 
     
     
       13. The dispenser according to  claim 11  wherein said friction disc further comprises at least one second rotation lock, said at least one second rotation lock engaging at least one notch in said base. 
     
     
       14. The dispenser according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
       a head piece attached to said second end of said rod; and  
       a tear bar.  
     
     
       15. The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said first base member is configured to support a roll of paper towels in a vertical orientation. 
     
     
       16. The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said first base member is configured to support a roll of paper towels in a horizontal orientation. 
     
     
       17. The dispenser according to  claim 16 , further comprising a second base member, said second base member being removably joined to said second end of said rod. 
     
     
       18. The dispenser according to  claim 17 , wherein said first base member and said second base member are configured for mounting on a wall. 
     
     
       19. A rotation mechanism for use with a dispenser for household materials supplied as rolled sheets, said mechanism comprising: 
       a spinner, said spinner being generally tubular in shape, having a head end and a bottom end, and an axial bore therethrough, said bottom end having a concentric depression therein, said concentric depression having a plurality of circumferential ridges thereon;  
       a cylindrical sleeve member having a circumferential collar at an upper end thereof, said spinner being mounted on and freely rotatable about said cylindrical sleeve member; and  
       a friction disc mounted coaxially on a lower end of said cylindrical sleeve member and disposed within said concentric depression such that said spinner is retained between said collar and said friction disc.  
     
     
       20. The rotation mechanism as in  claim 19 , wherein: 
       said friction disc has a core and a plurality of protrusions extending from said core, said protrusions loosely engaging said plurality of circumferential ridges such that when said spinner rotates said plurality of protrusions contact said plurality of ridges, generating resistance to said rotation.  
     
     
       21. The rotation mechanism as in  claim 19 , wherein said friction disc has a circumferential edge and a flex ring disposed about said circumferential edge, said flex ring having a plurality of raised projections thereon, said plurality of raised projections loosely engaging said plurality of circumferential ridges such that when said spinner rotates said plurality of raised projections contact said plurality of ridges, generating resistance to said rotation. 
     
     
       22. The rotation mechanism of  claim 19  wherein said spinner is sized and dimensioned to closely to closely engage the inner surface of a tube or roll used for rolled sheet products. 
     
     
       23. The rotation mechanism of  claim 22  wherein said spinner has a plurality of flexible fingers thereon. 
     
     
       24. The rotation mechanism as in  claim 19  further comprising a washer disposed between said friction disc and said spinner. 
     
     
       25. The rotation mechanism as in  claim 19 , wherein said sleeve comprises at least one first rotation lock, said at least one first rotation lock engaging at least one notch in said friction disc. 
     
     
       26. A dispenser for a product supplied as a rolled sheet on a tube or roll, said dispenser comprising: 
       a first base member;  
       a sleeve having a circumferential collar, said sleeve being joined to said first base member by a screw stud engaging a retaining nut in said first base member;  
       a spinner disposed on and being freely rotatable about said sleeve, said first spinner having a head end and a bottom end, said head end contacting said collar such that said first spinner is retained on said sleeve, said bottom end having a concentric depression therein, said concentric depression having a, plurality of circumferential ridges; and  
       a friction disc disposed on said axial screw stud and within said concentric depression such that said spinner is retained on said sleeve, said friction disc having a core and a plurality of protrusions extending from said core, said protrusions loosely engaging said plurality of circumferential ridges such that when said spinner rotates said plurality of protrusions contact said plurality of ridges, generating resistance to said rotation.  
     
     
       27. The dispenser as in  claim 26  further comprising: 
       a second base member;  
       a cap; and  
       a plurality of flexible wires, each having a first end and a second end, each connected to said cap at said first end and connected to said spinner at said second end, each of said wires being bowed outward in order to closely engage the inside of said tube or roll.  
     
     
       28. The dispenser according to  claim 27  wherein said dispenser is configured for mounting on a wall. 
     
     
       29. A rotation mechanism for dispensing a product oriented on a roll, said rotation mechanism comprising: 
       a plurality of flexible wires for contacting an interior of the roll;  
       a freely rotating cap for receiving a first end portion of the plurality of flexible wires;  
       a freely rotating spinner for receiving a second end portion of the plurality of flexible wires; and  
       a friction disc for providing resistance to the freely rotating spinner.  
     
     
       30. The rotation mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the freely rotating spinner comprises a depression for receiving the friction disc, a surface of the depression including divets and ridges thereon. 
     
     
       31. The rotation mechanism of  claim 29 , wherein the friction disc comprises a plurality of protrusions for engaging the freely rotating spinner. 
     
     
       32. The rotation mechanism of  claim 29 , further comprising a stationary rod for extending through the cap and the spinner. 
     
     
       33. The rotation mechanism of  claim 32 , further comprising a stationary sleeve, oriented interior to the spinner, for receiving the stationary rod.